Attackers hit Pakistani arms complex, 67 dead

Thursday

Aug 21, 2008 at 6:49 PMAug 21, 2008 at 6:57 PM

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Two suicide bombers killed at least 67 people during a shift change at the Pakistani army's main weapons complex Thursday, a sign of the worsening security in the troubled country as parties in the ruling coalition continued to squabble over priorities after the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf.

Analysts said the ruling coalition is neglecting the country's terrorism crisis by focusing so much on who will succeed Musharraf, who quit Monday, and how to restore 41 judges he fired.

"The government is not giving attention to this at all," said defense analyst Talad Masood, a retired general who ran the weapons factory for eight years. "It's so involved in this quagmire on the judges, it's not paying attention to the real challenges the country is facing. And terrorism is the most important challenge facing this nation."

The U.S. had considered Musharraf a key ally in the war on terror, and President George W. Bush called Musharraf to thank him for his help in the fight against al-Qaida, the White House said Thursday.